From Burnout to Breakthrough: Rediscovering Purpose After 50

In 2021 I completed my last M&A transaction and although the fees were sweet, I felt intellectually COMPLETELY unsatisfied. We all like to portray ourselves as Michelin star chefs, but corporate M&A (and law) has adopted more of a McDonalds culture. Fast transactional turnover for the usual PE buyers.

So I checked out and wanted to reinvent myself. I started some business ventures, invested in others… succeeded with a few, failed with many more. No straight line in transformation.

2023 was my 50th year on this planet. A total mindfuck: I am running out of time… what do I still want to accomplish…

In 2024 the stillness returned… the dust settled… I am not running out of time, but let’s re-engage and get real.

1/ I am relaunching my advisory work kriscuyvers.com, but with a focus on having impact… for people who really need and appreciate guidance with their startups and young business ventures. No retainer nor success fees, just pay per hour of my time;
2/ I have finally given up on my resistance to fully onboard the media ecosystem of my adoptive hometown of Los Angeles… I have joined the creative agency wearethreefold.com, where I will support the team with connecting their brand, product and audience activation strategies with shareholders, board members and business executives;
3/ together with a very good friend and business partner in Los Angeles, I have been laying the foundation of a new startup marketplace for proprietary and third-party products and services centered around active lifestyle, food and wellbeing for midlife men like us. More about that in the coming months. @nurturelosangeles